Funding to Support Construction of Housing for Homeless New Yorkers Including Veterans and their Families
New York – (RealEstateRama) — Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced nearly $21.6 million has been awarded for eight supportive housing projects that will create a total of 265 units for homeless New Yorkers. The awards, made through the New York State’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, will fund supportive housing projects in Suffolk and Oneida counties for homeless veterans and their families, as well as ones in New York City, Erie, Nassau and Oneida Counties for homeless individuals and families. All eight projects are part of Governor Cuomo’s historic $10 billion commitment to building affordable housing and combating homelessness.
“New York has put forth a comprehensive plan that takes decisive actions to end our homelessness crisis and this funding is a key component of that strategy,” Governor Cuomo said. “With the creation of these supportive housing units, we are helping ensure that some of our most vulnerable New Yorkers have a safe, decent and affordable place to live and are given access to the support and services that they need.”
Of the 265 supportive housing units being created, 141 will be permanent and transitional supportive housing in New York City, Erie, Nassau, Oneida and Suffolk Counties. The units will serve vulnerable individuals with special needs, and will include a variety of supportive services tailored to their needs such as employment training, counseling, independent living skills training, benefits advocacy and assistance in obtaining and maintaining primary and mental healthcare.
Awardees include:
Lt. Col. Matt Urban Center (Erie County) $3,112,670
Utica Center for Development (Oneida County) $3,174,100
Concern for Independent Living, Inc. (Suffolk County) $1,308,842
Association for Mental Health and Wellness, Inc. (Suffolk County) $1,988,716
Rescue Mission of Utica, Inc. (Oneida County) $1,711,839
United Veterans Beacon House, Inc. (Suffolk County) $1,547,164
Postgraduate Center for Mental Health, Inc. (Kings County, NYC) $2,993,268
Concern for Independent Living, Inc. (Nassau County) $5,750,000
New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Samuel D. Roberts said, “Governor Cuomo has made a strong commitment to addressing homelessness and has consistently recognized the value of supportive housing in those efforts. We know that the housing and services the tenants will receive as a result of these projects will have long-term, positive impacts on their lives.”
New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said, “Housing is vital to the recovery process for those battling substance use disorders. I applaud Governor Cuomo, the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, and our partners at the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program for their efforts to make more housing available to our most vulnerable New Yorkers, including our Veterans, women with children, and those recovering from the disease of addiction.”
Senator Tim Kennedy said, “This major grant from New York State will allow the Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services Center of Western New York to continue and expand the life-changing services that they have provided for decades. By providing supportive housing for homeless single women and women with children, the Matt Urban Center is giving these families a new lease on life, and providing them with the dignity and safety that they deserve. I want to thank Governor Cuomo for his dedication to eradicating homelessness in New York State, and I want to express my deep appreciation to the men and women at the Matt Urban Center for their selfless work on behalf of others.”
Senator Joseph Griffo said, “I am pleased that the Utica Center for Development has been awarded a portion of this important funding so that we can continue to assist homeless veterans and their families in our region. No veteran who has honorably served our nation should struggle to find a place to live, so the local housing projects this funding will help support are a positive step toward ensuring that our veterans receive the services they deserve. This is also tremendous news for the Rescue Mission of Utica and will help create additional supportive housing apartments for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.”
Senator Thomas D. Croci, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs said, “I have been very pleased to work with the Governor and my Senate colleagues to aggressively address homelessness among veterans and their families. Our shared goal is to build the capacity so that no veteran or their family is forced to live on the street.”
Assemblywoman Crystal People-Stokes said, “Congratulations to the Lt. Col. Matt Urban Center for being awarded $3.1 million to continue their efforts towards fighting homelessness targeting veterans, women and children. This new permanent and transitional housing will help to improve the WNY landscape by offering security and comfort to some of Buffalo’s most vulnerable. I applaud Governor Cuomo and my legislative colleagues for making this funding available.”
Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi said, “There is a very legitimate need in the Mohawk Valley for safe, supportive housing for veterans and their families. Through teamwork and its strong network of collaborations, the Utica Center for Development wrote a winning plan that will not only house veterans and their families, but provide them with the services they need to get back on their feet. The Rescue Mission of Utica will provide much-needed supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals and families as part of a larger project that this funding will support.”
Assemblyman Dean Murray said, “Suffolk County prides itself in having one of the largest veterans populations in the nation and I am happy that we are doing our part to ensure that our veterans and their families have housing available to them. I would like to thank Governor Cuomo and officials at the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program for their efforts and dedication toward making this project a reality.”
Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente said, “This type of housing with support services is an essential piece to overcoming homelessness for members of our community. I thank Governor Cuomo for his commitment to providing this funding. It will afford an opportunity for people in need to achieve self-sufficient independence.”
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said, “I applaud Governor Cuomo for his continued leadership on addressing homelessness and for providing much needed state funding so that we can continue to work with our residents and veterans who are still in need. Through our various initiatives, such as the adoption of the Housing Our Homeless Heroes Act, Suffolk County has awarded millions of dollars to support various projects that have provided permanent housing units for homeless veterans and their families. The County applauds the work of Concern for Independent Living, the Association for Mental Health and Wellness and United Veterans Beacon House as they have been highly proactive in order to house those who made countless sacrifices and fought to protect our freedoms.”
Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz said, “This funding will be a lifeline for homeless individuals, particularly women with children, and will give them housing security and help them take steps to get out of poverty. Thanks to Governor Cuomo, the battle against homelessness is tipping in our favor.”
Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown said, “This funding is vitally important to increasing the availability of supportive housing in Buffalo for some of our city’s most vulnerable residents. The provision of housing and services in one location is tremendously effective in helping people overcome homelessness and we are grateful to Governor Cuomo for recognizing the Lt. Col. Matt Urban Center’s continued commitment to helping those in need.”
Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri said, “I commend the Governor for taking a proactive approach to combat Veteran homelessness. The City of Utica was one of the first City’s in the country to join the White Houses’ Mayor’s Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness and this funding will go to great lengths in providing resources our Veterans need and deserve.”
Homeless Housing and Assistance Program
The Homeless Housing and Assistance Program provides capital funding to develop housing for various special-needs populations designed to help families and individuals move out of homelessness and poverty, toward the highest level of independence possible. More than $70 million was awarded through the program during the 2015-16 state fiscal year to 19 projects across the state, which will develop more than 800 units of emergency, transitional and permanent supportive housing.
Homelessness Action Plan
In his 2016 State of the State address, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo proposed a historic $10.4 billion commitment to combat homelessness statewide over the next five years, which includes $2.6 billion for new supportive housing units and $7.8 billion for continuing commitments in support of existing supportive housing units, shelter beds, and other homeless services.
Phase one of the Governor’s Homelessness Action Plan was recently launched. As part of this effort, New York State has:
· Issued a request for proposals for 1,200 units of supportive housing, the first phase of the $2.6 billion plan to develop 6,000 units of supportive housing over the next five years.
· Provided to the City of New York more than 500 beds in underused state and state-licensed facilities for the homeless, to help address inadequate shelter housing.
· Created an Interagency Council on Homelessness to explore targeted solutions to homelessness and recommend best practices and policies to meet the ongoing needs of communities and individuals.
· Completed inspections of all 916 homeless shelters in the state and taken action to improve the conditions in homeless shelters so facilities are safe, clean and well-maintained.
Contact the Governor’s Press Office
Albany: (518) 474 – 8418
New York City: (212) 681 – 4640
Contact us by email:
Press.Office (at) exec.ny (dot) gov
